merie Reviews

Wonderland (1999)

Wonderland is an excellent reality drama in the best British

[8/10 · 19 September 2000]

Wonderland is an excellent reality drama in the best British tradition. Just 4 days out of the lives of members of 1 London family. Their hopes and ambitions, doubts and inability to communicate a perfect illustration of modern day big city life.

The actors, though most of them well known from other British films and TV series always believable through very natural and modest acting.

Only bad thing I can say about this movie: Michael Nyman has gone way over the top on the soundtrack!

Nachttanke (2000)

Documentary about a (night) gas station during the world championship soccer

[6/10 · 22 May 2000]

A loving, funny, sketchy portrait of people frequenting a 'Nachttanke' in Ludwigshafen. from drunks to turkish rappers. From nosy neighbours to celebrating football fans. Not gained a new insight, but was entertained.

Através da Janela (2000)

You might enjoy this film, even if I haven't. Or have I?

[6/10 · 22 May 2000]

Sometimes one can discover hidden gems at a film festival. Sometimes you see a film which could have been made anywhere, shown anywhere. I am not sure about this one. The story is about a devoted middle aged mother who along the way starts to suspect her son is involved in criminal activities as he deviates from their daily routine. It is intriguing to see how this overbearing, extremely loving (almost incestuous) mother opens her eyes to the awful truth as her son seems to drift further and further away from her, bringing home strange new friends, receiving mysterious phone calls. And then the story ends, it dies like a candle put in a draft. What seemed to be at the beginning a psychological drama changes - briefly - into a thriller, but doesn't quite live up to either genre. The acting though is superb. And to foreign ears like mine, the Brazilian Portugese sounds absolutely enticing. You might enjoy this film, even if I haven't. Or have I?

The Target Shoots First (2000)

Interesting, almost shocking and very funny documentary

[8/10 · 22 May 2000]

Documentaries do not usually draw big crowds. But when I saw the film at the Rotterdam Filmfestival it was a full house. And justly so!

A very interesting - almost shocking - and hilariously funny insight into US mail order CD shops. Shocking because you get to learn about corporate intruige. Shocking because the head of marketing does not even know what she is selling.

Remember Columbia/Warner is the biggest reseller in the US! And frightening because these corporations are fast taking over Europe.

And amidst all this, one lone warrior for the independent spirit fights himself out of the corporate noose to make this absolutely delightful documentary.

Never condescending towards his colleagues. With tongue in cheek and without surplus commentary (remember you are almost watching a home movie) the film maker won my respect and my heart. The posing for a 'picture with the rich and famous David Haselhoff' had me and my friends in stitches. I wonder where Chris Rocha go next?

Away with Words (1999)

Beer is life!

[4/10 · 22 May 2000]

I am typing these comments while consuming a can of beer. Well suitable for a film which had 'Beer is life' for a motto :-) Thinking back to that memorable evening at the International Filmfestival Rotterdam, where Chris Doyle himself treated everyone who was left in the audience after the screening of 'Away with words', to a beer. I must admit the after screening Q&A made up for the fact that I found the film totally unintelligible. Brilliant cinematography at times (of course). Weird, but intriguing dialogues. Loveable characters. Extremely funny scenes THIS MIGHT QUALIFY AS A SPOILER? (the rapping granny was a gem!). But all thrown together, a story which for me had no beginning and no ending without the director's comment. From him I understood we should view the film as a collection of words and images, like many music videos. But unfortunately this is not what I look for in a feature film.

Guest House Paradiso (1999)

Such a disappointment

[3/10 · 22 May 2000]

Being a HUGE Edmondsson/Mayall and especially Bottom fan, I went to the cinema with great anticipation. No such luck. Guest house Paradiso was an overall disappointment. It lacked all the good things from the series i.e. Two losers never bettering themselves, never getting the girl, being totally pathetic, the foul language. The only thing the film didn't lack was the gratuitous violence, being the only funny bit in the film. I missed Richie and Eddies filthy flat. I missed their horrid, boring friends, I missed a decent story line. I know they can do it. I never laughed as much as when I saw Bottom live during a trip to Britain. But this, this film, if it had been the first thing I'd seen I'd have never gone to see them ever again...

Rent a Friend (2000)

I recommend it. Even if it is on video.

[7/10 · 22 May 2000]

Am I really the first, and so far only person to comment on this film? This only goes to show how unjustly ignored (by the public, not the press) this film is/was.

The idea on which Rent-a-friend is based is brilliant. Haven't we all at one time or another longed for a friend to suit our every (non-sexual) need?

Yes, the acting is at times somewhat wooden, but that only adds to the whole comedic situation in my opinion. Yes, the dialogues are cheesy, sometimes verging on the ridiculous, but I would only describe that as being 'camp' rather than bad writing.

The situations in which friend Alfred finds himself are often hilarious. (Or is it that only a Dutch person can laugh about a man seeking a friend to watch German soccer with?). The whole development of Alfred's ploy to make money to impress Moniek into a multi national operation is still believable, and like I said before, funny.

And funny is what a comedy should be.

Rent a friend is lighthearted, a bit over the top, but certainly not worse than a lot of so called comedies we get to see most of the time. I recommend it. Even if it is on video, because the film has long left the theatres.

Gormenghast (2000)

gnawing dissatisfaction with the series as a whole

[6/10 · 22 May 2000]

May I be the first non native (English) speaker to add my comments?

Not being familiar with the books, I was still a bit disappointed with Gormenghast. It all breathes a very literary, very theatrical atmosphere and never really turns into true television. An interesting story (almost a gothic fairy tale) nonetheless - although I felt it lacked character development - excellent casting, beautiful staging. And still this gnawing dissatisfaction with the series as a whole. Even the gorgeously evil Jonathan Rhys Meyers couldn't make up for it.

Music of the Heart (1999)

The worst collection of cliches I have seen in a long time

[1/10 · 22 May 2000]

What a horrible, horrible film. The worst collection of cliches I have seen in a long time. Not that I saw much. I left the theatre screaming after about 40 minutes in search of a stiff drink to soothe my nerves. Meryl Streep was awful as usual. How many hurt and tortured expressions can 1 person have? Aidan Quinn's talents were - as so often - totally wasted. And who told Gloria Estefan she could act? Trying to be polically correct this movie still enforces racial stereotypes. (Brave inexperienced lonely music teacher teaches underprivilegded kids violin in poor neighbourhood school). The kids weren't even cute! Just written in to suit the appalling script. Aaargh! Wes Craven really made me cringe for once. real horror this one!

Agnes Browne (1999)

Tom Jones and the camp factor

[5/10 · 22 May 2000]

Entertaining. That is how I would describe 'Agnes Browne'. The film is witty at times. Angelica Huston is almost believable as an Irish mammy ("I don't know my husband's maiden name"). The French baker is an eerie Gerard Depardieu lookalike. The (real British/Irish) supporting actors are excellent (Ray Winstone! you love to hate him as usual).

SPOILER COMING UP

Entertaining, almost belieavble, only to be spoiled by mr foghorn Jones making an appearance at the end, not looking at all the way the period of the film would suggest (especially on stage). And oh my word, another one of those cliche happy endings. Not that I have anything against happy endings. It's just that you can see this one coming about half an hour in advance....

Any Given Sunday (1999)

How much noise can an audience take?

[2/10 · 22 May 2000]

Maybe it's because I'm not an American. Maybe it's because I'm not a sports fan. Maybe it's because I'm not a love of sports films. I did not enjoy this film at all. All the violent bashing, the soundtrack. It was all too much for me. So much so I left the theatre after a mere 45 minutes. Not curious at all about the rest of the story - and rightly so, after I heard the rest of it the next day - and not at all interested in any of the characters.

Snow Falling on Cedars (1999)

Beautiful images, shame about the cliche ending

[4/10 · 22 May 2000]

True love and decency always wins in the end. At least that is what the makers of this film (or the writer of the book) wishes you to believe. And had it been told otherwise I might have believed. But as so often with major movies, my belief was shattered by the all to familiar 'happy end'. Why oh why couldn't this film - which touches upon a very serious subject - end 5 minutes before it did? Why did it have to end like a soppy love story? When in fact it was a drama, a thriller, a courtroom drama, a romantic tale about love, trust, hope, racial prejudice, the horrors of war, family, tradition, all in one! Beautiful images of the sea. The forest. Japanese strawberry queens. All spoiled by the last tear jerking scene. Pity.